The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria

  • Panic as Cameroon releases more water from dam

    Panic as Cameroon releases more water from dam

    Panic gripped residents of Makurdi, Guma, Agatu, Gwer West and other areas affected by last year’s flooding in Benue State as the state government announced plans by Cameroonian authorities to start releasing water from Ladgo Dam.

    The Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Agency (SEMA), Mr Adikpo Agbatse, had announced on the state radio station early Friday that the Cameroonian authorities would release  water from the dam in the morning  and enjoined the people in vulnerable areas to be on alert, particularly, when the volume of water on River Benue begin to rise.

    The Nation, which went round vulnerable areas in the capital city saw as people expressed fear and called on the state government to immediately provide comfortable place for them.

    Madam Caroline, who lives at new garage area, one of the worst hit last year’s flood told our correspondent that the family is already planning to relocate their children to their place in the eastern part of the country to avoid the ugly experience of last year.

    According to her, “someone called my husband this morning and informed him of the radio announcement of the repeat of the flood incident anytime from now. Immediately we heard this, we started thinking of sending our children to the village to prevent them from experiencing the ugly incident of last year where we were crammed in a room that look like cubicle when the flood sacked us from here.”

    Also, Mr. James Atser , who lives along Gboko Road, one of the areas affected by last year’s flood, said that there was little he could do since he could not remove his house from the area but called on state government to make available a better place for people who may likely be displaced by the flood.

  • Eagles’ stars want Odemwingie back

    Eagles’ stars want Odemwingie back

    Several players of Nigeria’s Super Eagles have declared that they would not mind having controversial West Bromwich Albion attacker, Peter Odemwingie back in the team, Supersport.com reports.

    Odemwingie last featured for Nigeria in a 2013 Nations Cup qualifying game in Kigali, Rwanda in February 2012.

    Head coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi hinted in an interview this week that Odemwingie could get an unlikely recall to the national team.

    “For (Odemwingie), he still has a place in the team. I’m not looking for an apology from him. (Odemwingie) is somebody that I like very well and he knows that. The thing is, it’s about the team that I’m worried about,” Keshi said.

    Inter Milan midfielder, Obiora Nwankwo has now praised Keshi for “this bold step” and believes Odemwingie’s return would bode well for the African champions.

    “Having Odemwingie back in the national team would be a big plus. With all due respect to all the strikers in the team who have been working hard, Odemwingie is a very experienced striker who knows his way to goal,” said the 21-year-old currently on loan at Romanian club, CFR Cluj.

    Nwankwo added that experience plays a big role in teams winning matches when the stakes are high and insisted that Keshi’s recent declarations are nothing short of a masterstroke.

    “Talent alone is not just enough to win games. You need experience and that’s where you need people like (Vincent) Enyeama, (Joseph) Yobo, (John) Mikel Obi and Odemwingie.

    “The coach has acted like a father and we must respect that,” he said.

    Enugu Rangers midfielder, Sunday Mba also added his voice to the issue and explained that Odemwingie’s potential and long years as a professional footballer would “help the team.”

    “As footballers, our job is to go out there and play but experience is important in this game and I think Odemwingie would help the team in this regard,” he said.

     

  • Amosun: Nigeria spends N1.3tr yearly on food importation

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has decried Nigeria’s dependence on food importation.

    He said the country spends N1.3 trillion yearly on the importation of wheat, rice, sugar and fish, even though it has the capacity to produce them in abundance.

    The governor spoke yesterday in Abeokuta, the state capital, at the opening of the 40th National Council on Agriculture and Rural Development. The theme of the programme was: “From farm to the table: Developing agriculture value chains to create wealth and jobs and ensure food security”.

    Amosun said food importation has “harmed” the nation’s economy, adding that it “fuels domestic inflation, displaces local production and creates unemployment”.

    He said his administration has set aside over 20,000 hectares of land for agricultural investors at a minimal cost.

    Amosun said the government has bought farming equipment, which are rented out to farmers at subsidised rates to encourage mechanised farming.

    On the Model Farm Estate, he said: “On completion, the pilot project will provide direct employment for over 300 participants and indirect employment for about 2,000 workers, who will focus on the production of eggs, fresh and smoked fish, arable crops, orchard, fruits and leafy vegetables.

    “The Model Estate will be surrounded by commercial farms on over 2,000 hectares of land.”

  • Nigeria on the brink of collapse, says Ikuforiji

    Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji has said the country is on the brink of collapse.

    He spoke in his office while receiving the “Most Friendly Supporter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Award” from executives of the NBA, Ikeja branch, led by its Chairman, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani.

    Ikuforiji said: “The country is at cross roads. We call on God to help us but we need to have a sober reflection, put heads together and proffer solutions to our problems. The nation is on the brink of collapse, but we must not allow it to break up because its beauty lies in its big size.”

    He urged the NBA to “stand out as the voice of reason against oppression and uphold the country’s unity and progress”.

    “It is only when a body like the NBA takes the lead that others will follow. I have a lot of respect for NBA because I know what it is capable of doing,” the Speaker added.

    Ubani described Ikuforiji’s trial at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, for alleged money laundering as “political”.

    He said: “The Assembly, under your leadership, has lived up to the people’s expectation and you have put it on the path of greatness.

    “The NBA is solidly behind you. Whatever you are undergoing now is a political scheme, but God will vindicate you. Definitely, the righteous will be vindicated.”

  • More Nigerians studying in America – U.S Consul

    There are more Nigerians studying in the United States than from any other African country, the American Consul General, Jeff Hawkins has said.

    Speaking on the ties between Nigeria and the U.S, Hawkins said: “about 7,000 Nigerian students are studying in the country.”

    This, he said, among other exchange programmes, shows Nigeria and the U.S share deep diplomatic ties that the Consulate General Office would continue to encourage.

    Aside educational exchange, art promotion, according to him, is another area in which the US is building cultural bridges with Nigeria.

    He made the statements on Wednesday at his residence where he hosted American artist, Prof. Mimi Wolford, whose parents once served as U.S diplomats in Nigeria and some Nigerian young artists.

    While observing that art is a major communication tool for peace, Hawkins said, bringing the American artist to Nigeria to meet with the art community and students, in addition to showcasing the works of young artists is geared towards building cultural bridges between the two countries.

    He urged Nigerian politicians and elite to borrow a leaf from Prof. Wolford and her parents, who, during their stay in the country involved hugely in the exhibition of Osogbo art works.

     

     

  • Nigeria: A sleeping giant in darkness

    Then, I was not born but history has it that by the time of Nigeria’s independence, the colonial masters had high expectations from the country they were leaving. It was predicted that we would become one of the leading economies in a few years and a force to reckon with in Africa after independence.

    Perhaps, revelling in its potential to be a great nation, Nigeria prides itself the “Giant of Africa”. I am not a believer in forecasting, but I know most forecasts are as a result of extensive research and analysis. Nevertheless, I would not have expected anything less than fact from scientific forecast.

    With such an overwhelming population, Nigeria is blessed with human resource. Then talk about the black gold – petroleum – one of the world’s most widely-used and expensive resources, was found in addition to favourable weather and welcoming temperature; we could not have wished for more blessing from God; we are blessed.

    With the reality of today, Nigeria seems to have moved many centuries in backward direction. The promising statistics of the late 50’s and 60’s have all become a myth. But where did we get it all wrong?

    In essence, there are so many aspects of our stagnant development in which we have terribly failed. I have chosen to dwell on the problem of electricity ravaging the nation. Since my childhood days, Nigerians have not enjoyed uninterrupted power supply; instead of improving and provide more turbine to generate more megawatts of electricity, the fact is that the nation’s total power output has gone worse. As a student, I am schooling in one of the hottest parts of the country and as a result, I’m not finding it easy to cope with heat. Michael Faraday would be laughing at us, for if the scientist were to be a Nigerian, we would not have built on this excellent invention.

    For many years now, Nigerians have been left to suffer the consequences of erratic power supply. We are socially, economically and industrially weakened because we do not have a stable power supply. Most people cannot cope with this again.

    If this was to be happening in the 60’s or 70’s when only a few countries could boast of stable power supply, it would have been better; the we-are-not-alone syndrome, which the government usually brings to bear whenever it is being criticised, would have been aptly. Alas, these are times when small countries such as Ghana have dwarfed the sluggish giant called Nigeria in the provision of power supply.

    It is unimaginable that for the past 52 years, we have not been able to achieve an uninterrupted power supply. Ours is the case of one step forward and two steps backwards. Every successive government puts up elaborate plans on reviving our comatose power sector but efforts end up in futility and most times, the situation is left to go worse than before.

    Recently, when our power generation dropped from 4,517 megawatts to 3,443 megawatts, government officials were everywhere, begging us that the situation would be fixed. But how many megawatts of electricity are we talking about here? It should be a shame to us that Narita Airport in Japan generates about 6,000megawatts for its operation. This figure is above the useless 4,517 being celebrated by the government.

    Our government most times claims not to have enough funds but the fact is that most of these countries that now have stable electricity do not posses half of the resources at our beck and call.

    However, I won’t be a critic without appraising some of the bold steps taken by the government to save the situation such as the recent privatisation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). We must also explore other electricity-generating means. Other countries use wind turbines, solar electricity and more recently, nuclear reactor.

    Furthermore, the Federal Government should relax the constitutional provisions barring federating states from generating their electricity. It is really not going to work that just a company controls the electricity supply of a vast country like Nigeria. Let states come up with their own plan to reduce pressure on PHCN. Finally, the government and corporate bodies should invest in human resource, which is abundant in Nigeria. We have able youths across the country; these are the ones who will work for change since the future of their motherland dangles on balance.

    •Sarat is 200-Level Applied Chemistry, UDU, Sokoto

     

  • Union boss lauds ACE

    The National President of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education, Nigeria Comrade Mohammed Uwaisu, has commended the Management of Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo for creating a good relationship between it and unions in the College.

    Comrade Uwaisu spoke during the South West Zonal Delegates’ meeting in the college.

    According to him, the college was a preferred venue of the Delegates meeting because conducive environment in the college and smooth working relationship between management and unions.

    The Provost represented by the College Librarian, Dr. Rotimi Egunjobi, commended the College branch of the union for putting up a structure in the College.

  • Evil genuises worsen Nigeria’s woes

    The proposed policy by the United Kingdom, UK, that would require Nigerians to pay a bond of £3,000 (N750,000) to discourage them overstaying their visas evokes sadness about the discrimination we suffer from foreign countries.

    The misdeeds of some have been allowed to affect the way all of us are perceived and treated – like the way oil from a morsel of food spreads from the fingers to the palm and wrist. Nigerians are not the only immigrants in the UK and other countries that commit crime. As distasteful as the policy is, however, this is not a diatribe to bemoan how badly we are treated outside our shores but to check ourselves and dedicate our bountiful energy and talents to productive endeavours.

    From interviews with agents of many foreign universities in the UK and other places, I have learnt that Nigerians are brilliant and resourceful. They make good grades, win awards and join in many worthwhile projects. However, the bad deeds of our countrymen are in the news more often. If some Nigerians are not duping people, others are involved in fights, robberies and recently, terrorism and murder. Our reputation has suffered a battering because of these bad conducts.

    The sin for which we are most notorious is fraud. Our unfortunate popularity in that field is so great that an author, Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani dedicated her novel, I do not come to you by chance, to the subject and won an award for it. It takes so much intelligence to plan fraud that if Nigerian youngsters were to dedicate their energies to more useful purposes, we would have solved our electricity problems by now.

    As these fraudsters seek ways to defraud foreigners, others ply their trade locally. Almost on daily basis, I am bombarded with scam messages in my email box telling me to take advantage of some huge amount of money somebody from God knows where left to a family member I do not know who suddenly wants to share some of it with me; or that somebody deposited N640,000 in a bank account I do not have or that I should update my internet banking details.

    I always thought I could not fall for such scams. After all, I do not expect to reap where I have not sown. However the latest scam mail I got and almost fell for left me quite shaken. I marveled at the brilliance behind the attack. Last year, about this time, my email was hacked into. By the time I regained access to it, all my contacts had been deleted as well as over one year’s worth of emails, which was painful because I used my box as some sort of archive that can be used research past stories we have investigated or published; and obtain photographs and other useful details.

    That was why when I could not access my email from my office desktop computer on Sunday, I was worried. I remembered a mail from Yahoo that I neglected to read on my blackberry phone. When I could not sign in on my desk top, I went back to read it. It stated that I had applied for the cancellation of my yahoo mail and as a result the providers had started the process which would last three days. To terminate the cancelation in case I wasn’t the one that made the request, I was told to click on a certain link. Failure to do so would mean I would lose all my mails, contacts, draft and others in my box.

    Because of my previous experience, especially as I couldn’t access my box from my desktop, I clicked on the link. It redirected me to another website which look genuine that I was to input my email and password. I typed my email. I was required to type the password twice. Each time I wanted to do it, I was distracted by another activity such that the task would be terminated. I tried again. All of a sudden, it dawned on me that I should not disclose my password online. It was then I noted that the website name, kaiedoaccessories.com had nothing to do with Yahoo. When I conferred with a colleague, I decided against it and opted to change my password on my desktop instead. That was how I narrowly escaped the scammers.

    But the thought that I was nearly deceived, and so close to losing my details a second time did not leave me easily. I wondered at the intelligence the fraudsters used to nearly convince me to give up my password. I wondered why they could not use their brains to think up solutions to our country’s myriad problems. I could not stop thinking of how much we are losing when our bright young minds would rather use their intelligence and talents for evil, to cause agony rather than development. I pray they have a change of heart.

     

  • Graduands show love to school

    As part of their community service, the outgoing pupils of Edgewood College, Lekki, Lagos decided to present a table tennis to a public school, Victoria Island Primary School, VI, Lagos.

    The presentation performed by Folakemi Oduwole, outgoing assistant head girl, formed part of Edgewood’s graduation last weekend.

    Speaking at the presentation, Folakemi said presentation of gifts to the beneficiary school is an annual ritual. Last year, she said Edgewood gave uniforms, stationery, and text books among other items, a gesture she describes as a bond of love they have always shared with the school.

    In his keynote address, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Odein Henry Ajumogobia (SAN), gave the graduands, some of who already had their ‘A’ Level results as well as those that had completed University Foundation Programmes, tips on how to prepare for the next step in life.

    Ajumogobia, who was the guest speaker at the event, said their freedom began now, but warned that they must start taking responsibilities for their actions or inactions.

    “From here, you students will be free and accountable for your actions to yourself and the law,” he warned.

    He further warned that freedom at the tertiary level can be intoxicating, admonishing them not give in to it, because temptation of not attending class might occur.

    He urged them to embrace qualities such as good manners, decency, and good sense of humour, remorse, knowledge and sportsmanship.

    “Remember that your qualities as a person will be more important than your qualification,” Ajumogobia said.

    He also counselled them to prepare for hard times.

    “Explore your gifts and talent because they might bring you fame and fortune. Embrace hard work and humility, focus on others around you, challenge yourself and above all fear God.There are setbacks, difficulties and obstacles, embrace them because they are part of life. Keep your eyes on the goal; life is like a marathon; learn something new every day, follow God as you take these confident steps” he said.

    In his valedictory speech, the outgoing head boy Maxwell Jack, said his heart goes out to his classmates of Year 2013 for the fortitude they demonstrated all through the year.

    He said: “I also commend you for allowing me to lead you and yet teaching me so much. As we leave Edgewood to pursue degrees in various part of the world, i implore that we don’t forget the invaluable lessons we have learned at Edgewood. The sharp edge that we have should not be allowed to go blunt, the same determination we have shown here should be present in all our endeavours in our various universities.”

    In her goodwill speech the school’s Executive Director Mrs Kehinde Phillips told her pupils to be the best.

    “The difference between extraordinary and ordinary is that extra. Never hesitate to attempt that little extra that can bring change in your life,” she said.

    Thirty-two graduates were presented with certificates, plaques, and prizes.

  • Nigeria‘ll be better, says Afe Babalola

    The Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), has said Nigeria would be a better place for all if those who should make it better are ready to apply themselves to make it better.

    Receiving members of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the legal icon reiterated that with the monumental achievements of the university in less than four years of existence, “we are poised to challenge any institution in the world and stand side-by-side with them. We have the master plan and the time table to catch up with them in no distant future.”

    Babalola recalled that ordinarily, a three-and-a-half-year-old university should still be crawling, but due to a dint of hard work, dedication and determination, ABUAD, which has been described as the fastest growing university in Africa, is not only standing, but outstanding and already running, ready to catch up and beat those in existence before it.

    According to him, education in ABUAD is not only about learning, it is also about industry, discipline and character moulding as well as inculcating decency in the heart of future leaders of the country.

    The President and Chairman of Council of the institute, Mr. Ganiyu Koledoye, said what members of the institute have heard and seen in ABUAD propelled them to want to partner the university so that students graduating in Social Sciences could take the institute’s professional examinations to become Chartered Marketers.